Around 1,200 workers at the Rolls Royce Motor Cars plant at Goodwood, West Sussex, have won the largest single pay deal in factory history, worth up to an inflation busting 17.6%.
According to the Unite union, a typical worker’s (Grade 3) pay would increase by GBP3,205 plus a one-off payment of GBP2,000.
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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a top notch pay deal for the Rolls Royce workforce. Rolls Royce Motor Cars are famous and iconic because of the workers’ craft and expertise. For years the workers had been underpaid and undervalued but that’s changing. The union has won the best pay deal since the site opened.
“This is a testament to the organising efforts of the Unite reps at Goodwood.
Goodwood workers build some of the world’s most expensive luxury cars, including the Ghost, Wraith and Cullinan. Despite record sales the company had repeatedly denied the highly skilled workers a proper pay rise, the union claimed.
With union help, workers mounted a campaign to secure a fairer share of the world famous car manufacturer’s profits.
Rolls Royce Motor Cars is owned by BMW which made EUR16.1bn (GBP13.5bn) in the first half of 2022 alone, Unite said.
The campaign included a 98% vote in favour of industrial action in a consultative ballot if the members’ mandate for a pay rise in line with the cost of living was not met.
Following intensive negotiations with management a deal was negotiated, Eighty percent of workers took part in the ballot to accept the pay deal of 10% plus GBP2,000. The one year deal is worth between 14.8% and 17.6% for the pay grades represented by the union.
“This win is the latest stage of an ongoing campaign to raise pay at Goodwood in line with union recognised rates elsewhere in the premium sector,” Unite said.
“The pay deal considerably closes the gap between workers at Rolls Royce and its competitor Aston Martin.”
Unite regional coordinating officer Scott Kemp said: “Despite everything thrown at them, members showed the resolve needed to win this historic deal. For years workers at Goodwood have made the world’s most expensive cars while being paid the worst in the premium end of the industry.
“Goodwood is the so called House of Luxury and its high time workers had their well earned share of that reflected in their pay and conditions.”
